How does Exodus 40:20 connect to Hebrews 9:4 about the ark's contents? Setting the Scene: Two Key Passages Exodus 40:20: “He took the Testimony and placed it in the ark, attached the poles to the ark, and set the mercy seat atop the ark.” Hebrews 9:4: “…having the golden altar of incense and the gold-covered ark of the covenant. Inside the ark were the gold jar of manna, Aaron’s staff that had budded, and the stone tablets of the covenant.” What Exodus 40:20 Tells Us • “The Testimony” refers to the two stone tablets written by the finger of God (Exodus 31:18; Deuteronomy 10:1-5). • At the moment the tabernacle was set up, Moses placed only those tablets inside the ark. • The verse emphasizes obedience to God’s precise instructions and the centrality of His covenant word. What Hebrews 9:4 Adds • Writing nearly fifteen centuries later, the author of Hebrews lists three objects now inside the ark: – the stone tablets (Exodus 40:20) – the gold jar of manna (Exodus 16:33-34) – Aaron’s budded staff (Numbers 17:10) • Hebrews is not contradicting Exodus; it is giving a fuller, later inventory. Bringing the Verses Together • Sequence matters: 1. Tablets placed inside at Sinai (Exodus 40:20). 2. Jar of manna deposited “before the Testimony” soon afterward (Exodus 16:33-34). 3. Aaron’s staff stored “before the Testimony” after Korah’s rebellion (Numbers 17:10). • Over time, “before the Testimony” evidently became “within the ark,” so that by the era reflected in Hebrews, all three items were housed together. • Scripture treats these historical developments with literal accuracy; Hebrews simply reports the ark’s contents as they stood by the time of the second temple period. The Significance of the Ark’s Contents • Stone tablets – God’s unchanging moral law, the foundation of the covenant. • Jar of manna – God’s faithful provision in the wilderness, pointing to Jesus as the true Bread from heaven (John 6:32-35). • Aaron’s staff – God’s chosen priesthood, prefiguring Christ as our great High Priest (Hebrews 4:14-16). Together they witness to God’s law, sustenance, and priestly mediation—three pillars of covenant life fulfilled perfectly in Christ. Lessons for Today • God’s Word is historically reliable; the Old and New Testaments dovetail without error. • The ark’s evolving inventory shows God building layer upon layer of revelation, never contradicting Himself. • Each item calls believers to trust God’s commandments, depend on His provision, and draw near through His appointed High Priest, Jesus. |
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